ESPN Host Defends Kaepernick; Claims Its the National Anthem That’s Political [VIDEO]

For years, we have witnessed far too many on the left attacking patriotism in America as being racist and xenophobic. High school students have been told that wearing shirts with an American flag is not allowed because it might be viewed as disrespectful to students originally from Mexico, who the school allowed to wear shirts with Mexican flags.

The confederacy of American history is being wiped away because we are told it is racist and “painful” for blacks, who were not alive during the time of the confederacy. (Let me add that I am a black woman who grew up watching The Dukes of Hazzard and loving the Confederate flag topped car, the General Lee.)

The attack on America and her history was elevated into even more prominence, with a disdain for the American flag and National Anthem becoming mainstream due to the lead of then-San Francisco 49ers bi-racial quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who was raised by his white adoptive parents in an affluent California neighborhood. The mediocre quarterback attacked both America and the men and women in blue who risk their lives on a daily basis with this statement about his decision to show utter contempt and disrespect to America by refusing to stand during the National Anthem.

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick told NFL Media in an exclusive interview after the game. “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

On Thursday, Max Kellerman, the white co-host of ESPN’s First Take, not only defended Kaepernick’s actions but proclaimed that the NFL is making a political statement by playing the National Anthem of the United States of America.

The conversation took place along with co-host Stephen A. Smith, who happens to be black. But, it was Kellerman, in speaking about Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Bennett’s comparison of Kaepernick to Mohammad Ali, who slammed the playing of the National Anthem as “political.” (emphasis mine; partial transcript courtesy of Breitbart.)

They both were asked to do things that went against their conscience. In this country, in the United States of America, you don’t have to do that. We are free to make our own choices. And if our conscience is bothering us, we can follow that.

In Muhammad Ali’s case, he was asked to take a step forward and become a part of the Vietnam War, and he was against it on religious and moral and ethical principles, and he refused to take the step and he faced five years jail time but was ultimately vindicated in a Supreme Court case. OK, but he did have his prime stripped, his license revoked and he couldn’t earn a living for four years, all that.

Colin Kaepernick also did not go looking for a protest. It came to him. He was asked to stand for the national anthem. You do not have to stand for the national anthem. And even if it it was a rule that you did, is that Colin Kaepernick injecting politics in the NFL? No. That’s the NFL injecting politics by playing the national anthem and putting pressure on you to stand for it in the first place.

So, there you have it. Hellerman, host at ESPN which has been outed as a left-wing network masquerading as giving a rip about sports, believes that the playing of the National Anthem is “injecting politics.” Perhaps Kellerman should be reminded that Kaepernick had no problem standing for the National Anthem for his first three seasons in the league. He has also now said that if, and that’s a big if, he is signed by another team, he will stand for the National Anthem.

About the Author

Jennifer is a Co-Founder of PolitiStick and the Editor-in-Chief. She is a graduate of Texas A&M University and a certified teacher with 12 years experience in the classroom. Jennifer attended what is credited for being the first modern-day Tea Party rally in the country in the Seattle area and from there emerged as a powerful speaker and writer within the movement. While still in Washington State, Jennifer was selected to be a member of the second graduating class of the Jennifer Dunn Leadership Institute (JDLI), a program which identified future conservative leaders.
Jennifer worked as the National Outreach Director for one of the largest conservative groups in the country and served as Managing Editor and writer for what quickly grew to become one of the top 15 conservative sites in the country. She brings to Politistick a passion for the fight for freedom for current and future generations.

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